General info

Environmental

Falmouth Bay to St. Austell Bay Special Protection Area (SPA)

The Falmouth Bay to St Austell Bay Special Protection Area (SPA) has been classified as it supports internationally important populations of overwintering black-throated divers, great northern divers and Slavonian grebes.

Falmouth Bay to St Austell Bay SPA is on the south coast of Cornwall, covering the marine environment incorporating five shallow, sandy bays; Falmouth Bay, Gerrans Bay, Veryan Bay, Mevagissey Bay and St Austell Bay. It also includes Carrick Roads, an estuarine area which meets the sea between Falmouth and St Mawes, and part of the tidal Helford River. The river complex areas are part of a ria system, typified by steep sides and slow tidal currents, with subtidal rocky shores and exposed intertidal mud on creeks and river branches. The diversity of marine habitats is reflected in existing statutory protected area designations, some of which overlap or abut the SPA.

Following consultation, the Secretary of State formally classified the site as a Special Protection Area (SPA) on 31st October 2017 in accordance with the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010.

Natural England and other relevant agencies are now progressing registration of the site and will issue full formal stakeholder notification once this registration is complete.